Don Zier

from cover

Japanese Sword Drawing is a complete guide to this exoteric aspect of sword fighting. Written by a noted master, this volume describes the techniques and katas of Muso Shnden Ryu (Traditional Spiritual Vision System), one of iaido's best-known schools.

Muso Shinden Ryu was founded by the great master Hayashi Jinsuke Shigenobu in the 16th century. Since that time, a succession of masters have guided the progress of the school, often adding katas and modifying techniques as their experiences dictated.

Illustrated with more than 800 photographs, this book records many iaido forms that thus far have only been orally transmitted. It documents the three styles of sword-drawing taught in the Muso Shinden Ryu system: Shoden (First Tradition), Chuden (Middle Tradition) and Okuden (Inner Tradition), each of which is actually a complete art of sword-drawing in itself. In addition, the Seitei Kata (Official Forms) of the All-Japan Fencing Federation and the All-Japan sword Drawing Federation are described in detail.

Contents

Foreword: The Students' Perspective
Part One: Preliminaries
1 Overview-Background; Scope; Conventions
2 Basic Techniques-Drawing; Cutting; Blood-cleaning; Sheathing
Part Two: The Traditional Schools of Iaido
3 The First Tradition: Omori Ryu-Backgroung; Preliminaries; Beginnng Formality; Ending Formality; Skhohatto (Tkhe Initial Sword); Sa To (Following Sword); U To (Right Sword); Atari To (Striking Sword); Inyo Shintai (Advancing-Retreating Movement); Ryu To (Flowing Sword); Jun To (Obedient sword); Gyaku To (Reversed Sword); Seichu To (Center Strengthened Sword); Koran To (Tiger Fighting Sword); Nuki Uchi (Sudden Attack); Inyo Shintai Kaewaza (Advancing-Retreating Movement)
4 The Middle Tradition: Eishin Ryu-Background; Distinctive Features; Preliminary Exercises; Yokogumo (Bank of Clouds); Tora Issoku (Pair of Tigers); Inazuma (LIghtning); Ukigumo (Floating Clouds); Yamaoroshi (Mountain Wind); Iwanami (Waves Breeaking Against Rocks); Urokogaeshi (rEpeating Pattern); Namigaeshi (Repeating Waves); Taki Otoshi (Dropping Waterfall); Nuki Uchi (Sudden Attack)
5 The Inner Tradition: Oku Iai, Seated Technques-Background; Distinctive Features; Kasumi (Mist); Sunegakoi (Enclosed Shin); Shihogiri (Four Driectional Cut); Tozume (Enclosing Doors); Towaki (Side Door); Tanashita (Lower Shelf); Ryozume (Both Enclosed); Tora Bashiri (Rushing Tiger)
6 The Inner Tradition: Oku Iai, Standing Techniques-Background; Distinctive Features; Yuki Tsure (Accompanying); Tsuredachi (Together); So Makuri (All Rolled Up); So Dome (All Stopped); Shinobu (Faithful Husband); Yukichigai (Crossing); Sodesuriegaeshi (Returning from Brushing the Sleeve); Mon Iri (Entering the Gate); Kabe Zoi (Adjusting for the Wall); Ukenagashi (Flowing Parry); Oikakegiri (Pursuing Cut); Ryoshi Hikitsure (Both Warriors Brought Together); Itomagoi (Farewell Visit)
Part Three: Established Kata of the Japanese federations
7 Kata of the All-Japan Fencing Federation-Background; Distinctive Features; Preliminaries; Mae (Front); Ushiro (Rear); Ukenagashi (Flowing Parry); Tsuka Ate (Hilt Strike); Kesagiri (Priest's Stole Cut); Morotezuki (Two-Handed Thrust); Sanpogiri (Three Direction Cut); Ganmen Ate (Strike Between the Eyes); Soetezuki (Fixing Thrust); Shihogiri (Four Direction Cut)
8 Kata of the All-Japan Sword Drawing Federation-Backgroung; Distinctive Features; Preliminaries; Maegiri (Front Cut); Mae Atogiri (Front-Rear Cut); Kiriage (Rising Strike); Shihogiri (Four Direction Cut); Kisakigaeshi (Returning Sword Point)
Appendix
Headmaster LIneage and Systemic Development
Japanese Sword Terms
Particpants' Statements… (altro)

from cover

In the early 1600's a master martial artis named Muso Gonnosuke challenged Musashi Miyamoto, Japan's greatest master of the sword, to a duel. Musashi, using his two sword technique, defeated Muso in the match. Humiliated, Muso retired to a mountain retreat, spending his days in meditation. During this period of isolation, he conceived the idea of a new form of staff fighting that used not the classical six-foot staff, but a shortened stick four feet in length. Once again Muso Gonnosuke challenged the great swordsman-and this time, he won.

The Jo, the japanese short staff-it combines the techniques of the spear, sword, and the naginata, Japan's halberd. In the words of author Tom Lang, 'The jo is a humble weapon with a noble hisory; a simple weapon of great complexity.'

Contents

Introduciton
1 The Jo
2 Conventions and Terms
3 Preliminary Skills
4 Basic Actions
5 Targeting
6 Timing
7 Traditional Short Forms
8 A Modern Practice Form
9 Traditional Long Forms
Glossary
Afterword
About the Authors… (altro)